Customs
Asia
Kazakhstan Customs Regulations
Import & export rules, duty-free allowances, prohibited items, and traveler health advisory
$3,000
Duty-free limit
1000 cigs
Tobacco allowance
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Import Regulations
- 1000 cigarettes or
- 1000 grammes of other tobacco products
- 2 litres of alcoholic products or
- 2 litres of wine
- A reasonable amount of perfume
- Personal goods including toiletries, cameras, TV sets mobile phones and jewellery. All objects brought into the country in this section will have to be declared upon entry and are for personal use only.
- For travellers, an unlimited amount of local currency can be imported whilst foreign currency greater than USD 3,000 w+ill need to be declared. The same restrictions apply for Kazakhstan nationals leaving the country providing all local currency taken out is declared.
- Travellers to the country can export an equal amount of local currency to the amount they came in with. Foreign currency greater than USD 3,000 exiting the country will need to be declared at customs. Kazakhstan nationals can export an unlimited amount of local currency providing a permit is obtained beforehand. Foreign currency up to USD 10,000 can be exported but sums greater than USD 3,000 will also need to be declared at the customs department.
- Illegal drugs
- Weapons, Explosives and ammunition
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Animal or animal products – unless permission has been obtained
- Cats, dogs and other animals – unless permission has been obtained
- Pigeons
- Plants, plant products and soil
- Gold and silver – unless permission has been obtained or is declared at customs
- Precious stones and jewels
- Culturally valuable artefacts and antiques
- Photographs and other printed material which portrays the country in a negative light
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Pornographic material
- Food and food products entering the country will require a special permit in order to be granted entry.
- Cats, dogs and other pets being imported into the country will require a veterinarian health certificate in order to enter the country. An additional certificate showcasing the animal’s protection against Rabies is also recommended.
- Gold and silver items which are not declared upon entry will be prohibited from entering the country.
Export Regulations
- No information available
- Illegal drugs
- Weapons, Explosives and ammunition
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Animal or animal products – unless permission has been obtained
- Cats, dogs and other animals – unless permission has been obtained
- Pigeons
- Plants, plant products and soil
- Gold and silver – unless permission has been obtained or is declared at customs
- Precious stones and jewels
- Culturally valuable artefacts and antiques
- Photographs and other printed material which portrays the country in a negative light
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Pornographic material
- No information available
Health & Security
Basic health information for travelers to Kazakhstan
Basic security information for travelers to Kazakhstan
🩺 Basic Health Information for Travelers to Kazakhstan
- A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers coming from an infected region. Travellers from other countries should consider obtaining vaccination against the disease prior to entering the country.
- Tap and other local water sources should be considered contaminated and thoroughly boiled before being drunk. Travellers are advised to stick to bottled water whenever possible throughout their stay inside the country. Milk and dairy products might be unpasteurised and should be avoided for safety reasons. All meat, fish and vegetables should be well cooked and served boiling hot whilst fruit should be peeled prior to consumption.
- A wide variety of water born diseases are present throughout the country including Cholera, Polio, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Travellers should exercise extreme caution when dealing with all native water sources and avoid swimming in any natural pools, streams or similar water sources which might be contaminated.
- Tuberculosis is reported to be a major health problem throughout the Aral Sea and Semipalatinsk regions of the country and may pose a threat to travellers staying or visiting remote sections of the country.
- Tick borne encephalitis is present in much of the wooded rural areas of the country between April to June. Travellers visiting these areas should spray reasonable amounts of insect repellent over both themselves and their equipment. Travellers feeling unwell should immediately seek out the nearest available medical assistance before serious symptoms develop.
- Blood related diseases including HIV and Hepatitis B are endemic to the region and all travellers to the country should exercise great care when dealing with bloody or dirty needles or when engaging in sexual activity during their visit. All travellers staying in the country longer than three months will automatically be required to undergo a HIV test.
- Travellers to the country are advised against any contact with wild dogs or other animals whose bites might contain Rabies. If bitten, travellers should immediately clean the wound and seek out medical assistance to check for any signs of infection.
- Much of the country is located at a high altitude which could potentially cause health and respiratory problems for travellers unused to these conditions. Exact heights inside Kazakhstan include the Pamir, Tien-shan and Altai Mountain ranges which rise in the east and reach up to7439metres high, Khan Tengri which stands at 7010m and Peak Lenin at 7134 metres. All visitors to these regions should exercise considerable caution and should slowly move towards a lower altitude if feeling persistently dizzy or light headed and seek out medical assistance if symptoms develop.
- Whilst Kazakhstan does possess a large network of hospitals and pharmacies, the overall standard of medical assistance in the country is considered unreliable at best with many medicines likely to be in short supply. All foreign visitors to the country are strongly urged to bring any urgently required medicine and supplies into the country with them. The largest available medical facilities include the Central Hospital, the Maternity and Childhood Institute Clinic and the Medical Teaching Institute Clinic in Almaty, and the Spinal Centre and Hospital of Rehabilitation Treatment in Karaganda. Doctors are likely to demand immediate payment for any services rendered and standards of hygiene could be poor. Travel and health insurance should be obtained prior to beginning any visit to this country and an emergency airlift to a nearby country might be necessary in the event of serious accident or illness.
🛡 Basic Security Information for Travelers to Kazakhstan
- There have been a small number of suicide attacks and explosions in isolated regions of the country. Although casualties have so far been relatively light from such incidents, all travellers planning on visiting the country are strongly advised to monitor the ongoing security situation before beginning their journey.
- Incidents of petty theft and other violent crimes have been reported and all foreign visitors are urged to take care when visiting public locations. Travellers to the region are advised to keep their passport and other valuables in a safe location at all times and avoid any public displays of wealth which could serve to attract unwanted attention. Female visitors in particular are also advised to avoid travelling alone throughout the country and general travel after dark is best avoided where possible. Travellers inside the country are urged to keep a copy of their passport with them at all times in the event of an emergency. Other noted criminal offences against visitors include spiked drinks and personal items being stolen from parked vehicles or whilst travelling on local trains.
- Whilst the country is currently politically stable, conditions in the country could change and all travellers inside Kazakhstan should stay informed as to the countries current political and social situation and avoid any large gatherings or protests which could quickly turn violent and dangerous.
- International driving licences are sufficient for any foreign visitors planning on driving through the country but a local licence will be required after six months residency .The Australian governments travel advice site states that “Government authorisation is required prior to travel to areas along the border with China (Kulzhat and Kargos), regions around the Gvardeyskiy village, Rossavel village, the Kulzhabashy railway station in Zhambyl Oblast, Bokeyorda and Zhangaly districts in Western Kazakhstan Oblast, the town of Priozersk and Gulshad village in Karagunda Oblast, and Baykonur, Karmakshy, and Kazakly districts in Kyzylorda Oblast and to areas where military installations are located”.
- Many of the roads throughout the country are poorly lit and maintained and accidents are quite common. Distances between destinations may be quite vast and travellers should make sure that they have obtained sufficient fuel before beginning their journey and should avoid driving down often poorly lit roads after dark. Snow, Ice and flooding can often obstruct or close certain roads during the winter period and any travellers driving during this period should check that the roads are still passable before stating their journey.
- Whilst not always serious, there have been a number of Earth tremors throughout the country. All travellers to the region are advised to stay calm and report their position to the nearest embassy in the event of a serious earthquake occurring during their visit. Extreme cold and snow has resulted in a small number of deaths inside the country and all travellers should check the local weather forecasts prior to arrival.
- Photos of important government, military and religious sites are banned and can be legally removed by the security services. Pictures taken of local everyday inhabitants may cause unease and permission should always be requested beforehand out of common decency.
- Visitors to the country should adopt a conservative attitude when in public and avoid dressing and behaving in a manner which could serve to attract attention. Drugs related offences are treated harshly and drink driving should never be attempted. Whilst homosexuality is not formally outlawed inside this country, it is still far from considered acceptable behaviour and any same sex couples visiting the country are strongly urged to avoid any public displays of affection which could potentially lead to trouble.
Contact Information
For further assistance please contact the Kazakhstani Customs authorities directly. They will provide the latest information about customs regulations and export-import procedures.
Official Website